apparently at least, misfortunes; that is, the | the animal creation. To these instances, the effects of apparent chance. It may be in pur-reader's memory will go back, as they are sesuance, therefore, and in furtherance of the verally set forth in their places; there is not same scheme of probation, that the evils of life are made so to present themselves. one of the number which I do not think decisive; not one which is not strictly mechanical: nor have I read or heard of any solution of these appearances, which, in the smallest degree, shakes the conclusion that we build upon them. I have already observed, that when we let in religious considerations, we often let in light upon the difficulties of nature. So in the fact now to be accounted for, the degree of happiness, which we usually enjoy in this life, may But, of the greatest part of those, who, eibe better suited to a state of trial and proba- ther in this book or any other, read arguments tion, than a greater degree would be. The to prove the existence of a God, it will be said, truth is, we are rather too much delighted that they leave off only where they began; with the world, than too little. Imperfect, that they were never ignorant of this great broken, and precarious as our pleasures are, truth, never doubted of it; that it does not they are more than sufficient to attach us to therefore appear, what is gained by researches the eager pursuit of them. A regard to a fu- from which no new opinion is learnt, and upture state can hardly keep its place as it is. If on the subject of which no proofs were wantwe were designed therefore to be influenced ed. Now I answer, that, by investigation, the by that regard, might not a more indulgent following points are always gained, in favour system, a higher, or more uninterrupted state of doctrines even the most generally acknowof gratification, have interfered with the de- ledged (supposing them to be true,) viz. stabisign? At least it seems expedient, that man-lity and impression. Occasions will arise to kind should be susceptible of this influence, try the firmness of our most habitual opin. when presented to them: that the condition ions. And upon these occasions, it is a matof the world should not be such, as to exclude its operation, or even to weaken it more than it does. In a religious view (however we may complain of them in every other,) privation, disappointment, and satiety, are not without the most salutary tendencies. CHAPTER XXVII. CONCLUSION. ter of incalculable use to feel our foundation; to find a support in argument for what we had taken up upon authority. In the present case, the arguments upon which the conclusion rests, are exactly such, as a truth of universal con cern ought to rest upon. "They are suffi ciently open to the views and capacities of the unlearned, at the same time that they acquire new strength and lustre from the discoveries of the learned." If they had been altogether abstruse and recondite, they would not have found their way to the understandings of the mass of mankind; if they had been merely popular, they might have wanted solidity. In all cases, wherein the mind feels itself in danger of being confounded by variety, it is But, secondly, what is gained by research sure to rest upon a few strong points, or per- in the stability of our conclusion, is also gainhaps upon a single instance. Amongst a mul-ed from it in impression. Physicians tell us, titude of proofs, it is one that does the busi- that there is a great deal of difference between ness. If we observe in any argument, that taking a medicine, and the medicine getting hardly two minds fix upon the same instance, into the constitution. A difference not unlike the diversity of choice shows the strength of which, obtains with respect to those great mothe argument, because it shows the number ral propositions, which ought to form the di and competition of the examples. There is no recting principles of human conduct. It is one subject in which the tendency to dwell upon thing to assent to a proposition of this sort; select or single topics is so usual, because there another, and a very different thing, to have is no subject, of which, in its full extent, the properly imbibed its influence. I take the latitude is so great, as that of natural history case to be this: perhaps almost every man applied to the proof of an intelligent Creator. living has a particular train of thought, into For my part, I take my stand in human ana- which his mind glides and falls, when at leitomy; and the examples of mechanism I sure from the impressions and ideas that ocshould be apt to draw out from the copious casionally excite it: perhaps, also, the train of catalogue which it supplies are, the pivot up-thought here spoken of, more than any other on which the head turns, the ligament within thing, determines the character. It is of the the socket of the hip-joint, the pulley or trochlear muscles of the eye, the epiglottis, the bandages which tie down the tendons of the wrist and instep, the slit or perforated muscles at the hands and feet, the knitting of the intestines to the mesentery, the course of the chyle into the blood, and the constitution of the sexes as extended throughout the whole of utmost consequence, therefore, that this property of our constitution be well regulated. Now it is by frequent or continued meditation upon a subject, by placing a subject in different points of view, by induction of particulars, by variety of examples, by applying prin ciples to the solution of phenomena, by dwel ling upon proofs and consequences, that men. tal exercise is drawn into any particular chan- | proof, not only of both these works proceednel. It is by these means, at least, that we ing from an intelligent agent, but of their have any power over it. The train of spon-proceeding from the same agent: for, in the taneous thought, and the choice of that train, first place, we can trace an identity of plan, may be directed to different ends, and may a connexion of system, from Saturn to our appear to be more or less judiciously fixed, ac- own globe: and when arrived upon our globe, cording to the purpose in respect of which we we can, in the second place, pursue the conconsider it but, in a moral view, I shall not, nexion through all the organized, especially I believe, be contradicted when I say, that, if the animated bodies which it supports. We one train of thinking be more desirable than can observe marks of a common relation, as another, it is that which regards the pheno-well to one another, as to the elements of which mena of nature with a constant reference to their habitation is composed. Therefore one a supreme intelligent Author. To have made mind hath planned, or at least hath prescribthis the ruling, the habitual sentiment of our ed, a general plan for all these productions. minds, is to have laid the foundation of eve- One Being has been concerned in all. ry thing which is religious. The world thence- Under this stupendous Being we live. Our forth becomes a temple, and life itself one happiness, our existence, is in his hands. All continued act of adoration. The change is no we expect must come from him. Nor ought less than this; that, whereas formerly God we to feel our situation insecure. In every was seldom in our thoughts, we can now nature, and in every portion of nature, which scarcely look upon any thing without perceiv- we can descry, we find attention bestowed uping its relation to him. Every organized na- on even the minutest parts. The hinges in tural body, in the provisions which it contains the wings of an earwig, and the joints of its for its sustentation and propagation, testifies antennæ, are as highly wrought, as if the a care, on the part of the Creator, expressly Creator had nothing else to finish. We see directed to these purposes. We are on all no signs of diminution of care by multiplicity sides surrounded by such bodies; examined of objects, or of distraction of thought by vain their parts, wonderfully curious; compar- riety. We have no reason to fear, therefore, ed with one another, no less wonderfully di- our being forgotten, or overlocked, or neglect. versified. So that the mind, as well as the ed. eye, may either expatiate in variety and mul- The existence and character of the Deity, titude, or fix itself down to the investigation is, in every view, the most interesting of all of particular divisions of the science. And in human speculations. In none, however, is it either case it will rise up from its occupation, more so, than as it facilitates the belief of the possessed by the subject, in a very different fundamental articles of Revelation. It is a manner, and with a very different degree of step to have it proved, that there must be influence, from what a mere assent to any something in the world more than what we verbal proposition which can be formed con- see. It is a farther step to know, that, amongst cerning the existence of the Deity, at least the invisible things of nature, there must be that merely complying assent with which an intelligent mind, concerned in its produc those about us are satisfied, and with which tion, order and support. These points being we are too apt to satisfy ourselves, will or can assured to us by Natural Theology, we may produce upon the thoughts. More especially well leave to Revelation the disclosure of many may this difference be perceived, in the de- particulars, which our researches cannot reach, gree of admiration and of awe, with which respecting either the nature of this Being as the Divinity is regarded, when represented to the original cause of all things, or his charac the understanding by its own remarks, its own ter and designs as a moral governor; and not reflections, and its own reasonings, compared only so, but the more full confirmation of other with what is excited by any language that can particulars, of which, though they do not lie be used by others. The works of nature altogether beyond our reasonings and our prowant only to be contemplated. When con-babilities, the certainty is by no means equal templated, they have every thing in them to the importance. The true theist will be which can astonish by their greatness; for, the first to listen to any credible communicaof the vast scale of operation through which tion of Divine knowledge. Nothing which he our discoveries carry us, at one end we see an has learnt from Natural Theology, will dimiintelligent Power arranging planetary sys-nish his desire of farther instruction, or his tems, fixing, for instance, the trajectory of disposition to receive it with humility and Saturn, or constructing a ring of two hun- thankfulness. He wishes for light: he redred thousand miles diameter, to surround joices in light. His inward veneration of this his body, and be suspended like a magnificent great Being will incline him to attend with arch over the heads of his inhabitants; and, the utmost seriousness, not only to all that at the other, bending a hooked tooth, concert- can be discovered concerning him by reing and providing an appropriate mechanism, searches into nature, but to all that is taught for the clasping and reclasping of the filaments by a revelation, which gives reasonable proof of the feather of the humming bird. We have of having proceeded from him. They who refer the operations of mind to a substance totally and essentially different from matter (as most certainly these operations, though affected by material causes, hold very little affinity to any properties of matter with which we are acquainted,) adopt perhaps But, above every other article of revealed | cle of consciousness, and because conscious religion, does the anterior belief of a Deity ness carries identity and individuality along bear with the strongest force upon that grand with it through all changes of form or of visible point, which gives indeed interest and impor- qualities. In the most general case, that, as tance to all the rest, the resurrection of the we have said, of the derivation of plants and human dead. The thing might appear hope- animals from one another, the latent organiless, did we not see a power at work adequate zation is either itself similar to the old organito the effect, a power under the guidance of zation, or has the power of communicating to an intelligent will, and a power penetrating the new matter the old organic form. But it is inmost recesses of all substance. I am far not restricted to this rule. There are other from justifying the opinion of those, who cases, especially in the progress of insect life, "thought it a thing incredible, that God in which the dormant organization does not should raise the dead:" but I admit, that it much resemble that which encloses it, and still is first necessary to be persuaded that there is less suits with the situation in which the ena God, to do so. This being thoroughly set- closing body is placed, but suits with a differ. tled in our minds, there seems to be nothing ent situation to which it is destined. In the in this process (concealed as we confess it to larva of the libellula, which lives constantly, be) which need to shock our belief. They who and has still long to live under water, are deshave taken up the opinion, that the acts of the cried the wings of a fly, which two years afhuman mind depend upon organization, that terwards is to mount into the air. Is there the mind itself indeed consists in organization, nothing in this analogy? It serves at least to are supposed to find a greater difficulty than show, that even in the observable course of others do, in admitting a transition by death nature, organizations are formed one beneath to a new state of sentient existence, because another; and, amongst a thousand other inthe old organization is apparently dissolved. stances, it shows completely, that the Deity But I do not see that any impracticability need can mould and fashion the parts of material be apprehended even by these; or that the nature, so as to fulfil any purpose whatever change, even upon their hypothesis, is far re- which he is pleased to appoint. moved from the analogy of some other operations, which we know with certainty that the Deity is carrying on. In the ordinary derivation of plants and animals, from one another, a particle, in many cases, minuter than all assignable, all conceivable dimension-an aura, an effluvium, an infinitesimal-deter- a juster reasoning and a better philosophy: nines the organization of a future body; does and by these the considerations above suggestno less than fix, whether that which is about ed are not wanted, at least in the same deto be produced, shall be a vegetable, a merely gree. But to such as find, which some persentient, or a rational being; an oak, a frog, sons do find, an insuperable difficulty in shakor a philosopher; makes all these differences; ing off an adherence to those analogies, which gives to the future body its qualities, and na- the corporeal world is continually suggesting ture, and species. And this particle, from to their thoughts; to such, I say, every conwhich springs, and by which is determined, a sideration will be a relief, which manifests the whole future nature, itself proceeds from, and extent of that intelligent power which is actowes its constitution to, a prior body: never-ing in nature, the fruitfulness of its resources, theless, which is seen in plants most decisively, the variety, and aptness, and success of its the incepted organization, though formed with-means; most especially every consideration, in, and through, and by, a preceding organi- which tends to show that, in the translation zation, is not corrupted by its corruption, or of a conscious existence, there is not, even in destroyed by its dissolution; but, on the con- their own way of regarding it, any thing trary, is sometimes extricated and developed greatly beyond, or totally unlike, what takes by those very causes; survives and comes in-place in such parts (probably small parts) of to action, when the purpose, for which it was the order of nature, as are accessible to our prepared, requires its use. Now an economy observation. which nature has adopted, when the purpose Again; if there be those who think, that was to transfer an organization from one in- the contractedness and debility of the human dividual to another, may have something ana- faculties in our present state, seem ill to aclogous to it, when the purpose is to transmit cord with the high destinies which the expecan organization from one state of being to an- tations of religion point out to us; I would other state and they who found thought in only ask them, whether any one, who saw a organization, may see something in this ana-child two hours after its birth, could suppose logy applicable to their difficulties; for, what-that it would ever come to undertsand flucever can transmit a similarity of organization tions; or who then shall say, what farther will answer their purpose, because, according amplifications of intellectual powers, what aceven to their own theory, it may be the vehi See Search's Light of Nature, passim. cession of knowledge, what advance and im-(the author, in nature, of infinitely various provement, the rational faculty, be its consti- expedients for infinitely various ends), upon tution what it will, may not admit of, when whom to rely for the choice and appointment placed amidst new objects, and endowed with of means adequate to the execution of any a sensorium adapted, as it undoubtedly will plan which his goodness or his justice may be, and as our present senses are, to the per- have formed, for the moral and accountable ception of those substances, and of those pro- part of his terrestrial creation. That great perties of things, with which our concern may office rests with him; be it ours to hope and lie. to prepare, under a firm and settled persuaUpon the whole; in every thing which res- sion, that, living and dying, we are his; that pects this awful, but, as we trust, glorious life is passed in his constant presence, that change, we have a wise and powerful Being, [death resigns us to his merciful disposal. THE END OF NATURAL THEOLOGY. |